Algeria, who had looked nervous in their opening 1-0 defeat by Slovenia, appeared a changed team in their Group C tie with England and for long spells looked the sharper of the two.
The North Africans, who had replaced goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi with Rais Ouheb Mbouli, were the crisper passers and had more movement.
"We haven't been in a World Cup for 24 years, and through matches like this in stadiums like this we grow and bring the level of our team up. We have capacity and potential. But we have to maintain the level of our performance," coach Rabah Saadane said after the match.
"The group is still open for every team to qualify so we have to use our potential and play for that."
History will weigh heavily on the team, who watched a film about their country's bloody independence struggle before the England game, when they meet the United States in Pretoria on Wednesday and try to advance to the second round for the first time.
At the Spain World Cup of 1982, Algeria's first appearance in the tournament, the Desert Foxes had looked sure to progress from the group stage after a shock victory over West Germany.
"We had deserved to take a point from the first game which we missed out on, so I am glad we got a point now. We had more possession and we are getting more confident," said midfielder Hassan Yebda after the England game.
"We are very hungry to win. I want to give my best for Algeria to qualify, and also for Africa."
